Robert McClory Bike Trail

Robert McClory Bike Trail is a 25.4 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Great Lakes, Illinois that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for walking, trail running, birding, and road biking and is best used from March until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

dogs on leash

kid friendly

road biking

trail running

walking

bird watching

paved

views

wild flowers

The Robert McClory Bike Trail may be known by many names, but it's soul has always remained the same-a straight, flat bike trail that traverses through Lake County, IL from Highland Park on the south to the Wisconsin/Illinois State line on the north and all the eastern Lake County municipalities in between. This trail was born again from the now defunct Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee electric railroad corridor-hence it is sometimes mistakenly called the North Shore bike path/trail. Some locals may also call in the Green Bay trail, which it connects to on the south.
This paved and screened trail connects to three other major trails-Green Bay Trail on the south, Kenosha County Bike Trail on the north, and the East-West North Shore trail in Lake Bluff. The trail parallels the Metra regional railway which runs North-South through Lake County. With both the connecting trail and Metra access, just about any length ride is possible whether it's one-way or round trip.
The bike trail alternates between tree lined urban throughways, quaint downtowns, and neighborhoods on the south end to more rural alternating prairies and tree sheltered trails on the north end.

Kenosha Metra Station

Metra station with parking and small building.

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104th Street Parking

Intersection with the bike trail. A possible parking location just north of the north trailhead.

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116th Street Parking

An intersection with the bike trail. A possible parking location just north of the north trailhead.

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Wisconsin/Illinois State Line

The middle of the bridge over Russell Road/State Line Road is the Wisconsin & Illinois State Line-the northern trailhead of the Robert McClory trail.
It connects direclty to the Kenosha County Bike Trail which continues for another 3.5 miles to 89th Street in Kenosha.
Just south of the bridge is an access path down to the road. There is no parking here, but parking can be found south at 5th Street or north at 116th Street and 104th Street.

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5th Street Parking

A road that dead-ends at the bike trail. A possible parking location just south of the north trailhead.

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Winthrop Harbor Metra Station

Metra station with parking and small building.

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Zion Metra Station

Metra station with parking and small building.

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Lyons Woods Branch Trail

Next to trail leading east to Lyons Woods, you will find a bench.

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Waukegan YMCA

Cold drinks and restrooms are available during operating hours.
Parking is also available here.

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Larsen Park

This park offers some relaxing shade for some R&R. It also has a park for those who need to burn off more energy.
Parking is available here.

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Ghosts of North Shore Railway

Here you can view the few remaining structures from the Chicago, North Shore, and Milwaukee Railway. These towers strung the electricity necessary to power the electric train. Along the bike path, most of the towers are gone, but the concrete foundations are still visible as far north as Kenosha.
Much of the open space here is been tilled for many community gardens.

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Waukegan Metra Station

Metra station with parking and small building

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North Chicago Metra Station

Metra station with parking and small building.

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Sheridan Underpass

You need to cross over and then under Sheridan Road to connect the the northern part of the trail.
Once you cross east across Sheridan, the path will lead you down the hill and then West under Sheridan.

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Great Lakes Metra Station

Northern most trailhead for this section of the guide. The bike path continues north to the state line. Be sure to check out my other guide, Robert McClory Bike Trail:North for the continuation to the State Line.
Metra stop with small building and parking which sits across from the Great Lakes Naval Station. The Great Lakes Naval station main gate is just north of the Metra station. Can be reached from all directions by vehicle or bike.

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Lake Bluff Station

Metra stop with small building and parking.

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North Shore Trail Junction

Here the Robert McClory Bike Path intersects the North Shore Trail.
The North Shore Trail is a paved/crushed limestone trail that parallels Hwy. 176 West 7.5 miles to Mundelein, IL.

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Lake Forest Metra Station

Metra stop with small building and parking.

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Fort Sheridan Metra Station

Metra stop with small building and parking.
The Fort Sheridan Bypass reconnects to the Robert McClory Bike path at the NW corner of the intersection of Sheridan/McKinley Road and Old Elm Road.
Cold drinks and restrooms are available at the gas station adjacent to the Metra Station.

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Highwood Metra Station

The Highwood Metra station is not on the bike path, but it can be accessed from the North or South via Waukegan Ave.

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Fort Sheridan Bypass

The bike path takes to the road here to bypass the business district on Waukegan Ave in favor of the low traffic neighborhood streets.
As the signs along the path indicate, you'll want to cross Waukegan Ave. and head north to Bloom, east to St. John's Ave., and north to the paved path adjacent to Walker Ave where it goes around Fort Sheridan.
The bike path re-connects with the railway north of Fort Sheridan.
The Highwood Metra station can be reached by traveling North on Waukegan Ave.

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Sem-Euphoria Spin by Fred Nagelbach

One of many sculptures along the bike path commissioned by the City of Highland Park

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Highland Park High School

Follow Vine Ave. east to the ramp which connects you back to the bike path.

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Highland Park Station

Highland Park Metra Station
You have the two options here: bike the direct business route up St. John's Ave. or the bypass through the Highland Park neighborhoods. Both options lead to the same location-the continuation of the bike trail further north.
The direct route follows St. John's Ave. which parallels the train tracks north until it reconnects with the bike path at Highland Park High School.
The bypass heads slightly east of the tracks through neighborhoods where it rejoins the trail to the north at Highland Park High School.

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Solar Journey by Terrence Karpowicz

One of many sculptures along the bike path commissioned by the City of Highland Park

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Ravinia Station

Metra Ravinia Station
Parking is available here.

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Ravinia Park

Ravinia Park is a festival grounds featuring a variety of musical acts throughout the summer. Check the link in the resources section for information about upcoming performances.

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Braeside Station

Southern most trailhead.The Robery McClory Bike Path terminates here at the Lake/Cook county line, with a connection to the Green Bay Bike Path.
The trailhead can be reached easily by vehicle or bike from any direction.
The Metra station offers parking and a small building for shelter.

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The Robert McClory Bike Path generally parallels the Metra route through Lake County, making one-way trip logistics easy as the Metra allows bikes on some trains. Parking at the Metra stations generally requires a fee. Check the Metra site at the link below for more info.
When biking anywhere, always wear a helmet.
Reflective and brightly colored clothing make you more visible to motorists, pedestrians, and other bikers.
Layered clothing is the best way to regulate your temperature during changing weather conditions.

Gravel trail, some ok sights but nothing great really. I prefer the section of this trail in kenosha county that is just north of this trail. It is paved and wooded and has a better back woods feel to it.